Alessandro Zanti was born in Reggio Emilia in 1771 and moved with his family to Mantua at a young age, where he continued his musical studies under the guidance of the local mentor Mattia Milani. Violin making was always a secondary activity for Zanti, who was a very important violinist and was engaged in leading roles in the orchestras of the city. He had close contacts with Tommaso Balestrieri, who lived with the Zanti family for a brief period at the end of his life; Giuseppe Dall’Aglio must also have been a direct acquaintance, since he acted as a godfather for one of the violinist's children.
Zanti's work is very rare and quite loosely inspired by Balestrieri in the general shape of its model; the corners are long and protrude outwards. The F-holes are based on an Amatisé pattern and have rather large lower eyes.
